Although sports like football, MMA and tennis make huge headlines around the world regularly, these aren’t the only ones with huge global fanbases. Horse racing is a good example of this and has an army of passionate fans who follow its every move. This is easy to see in the US for example, where watching iconic races like the Kentucky Derby is very popular. The UK is another hotspot for racing action and has some historic festivals to entice fans with.
The Cheltenham Festival which happens each March always draws huge crowds – be it at the course or from people watching at home. It also sees plenty of betting action, as punters flock to back their favourite horse or jockey in the many races it includes. One thing to consider to really enhance your betting experience at the festival in 2024 is placing ante-post bets.
But what is ante-post betting and what are some of the top Cheltenham ante-post tips to dig into?
Ante-post betting at Cheltenham explained
This type of betting at Cheltenham refers to placing wagers far in advance of the race itself happening. Due to this, ante-post betting is different than placing bets on the day of the race or just before the off. The benefit with ante-post betting is that you normally get much larger odds on horses you back and this can mean bigger payouts for winning bets. It is important to note though that your bet would lose if the horse does not end up running as expected.
If you are confident your selection will run though, taking potentially better odds on it far in advance is a smart move. But what are some of the best ante-post tips for Cheltenham 2024 to consider?
JPR One for the Arkle
Sports come packed with amazing moments and memorable occasions. You only have to look at the UEFA Champions League highlights from 22/23 for proof of this. Horse racing is no different and one recent magical moment was JPR One’s Lightning Novices win. This showed he has the class to do well in 2024’s Arkle and the way he has ben jumping recently also confirms this.
JPR One also seems pretty certain to run in this race and punters should therefore have enough confidence to back him on ante-post markets. When you also consider he ran strongly at Cheltenham last November and was close to winning that race, it is easy to see why Joe Tizzard’s runner is a decent each-way choice.
Firefox in the Supreme Novice Hurdle
Although Ballyburn will be a major player if he runs in 2024’s Supreme, this by no means nailed on. Firefox though is expected to take part and this makes him a strong ante-post tip. Although his run in the Lawlor’s of Naas was not ideal, he should suit the minimum distance on a stiff Cheltenham track and be a match for Ballyburn if that horse does run. Gordon Elliott’s horse comes into this looking fresh and could well have what it takes to taste victory.
My Mate Mozzie in the Grand Annual
This Gavin Cromwell trained horse is a superb jumper and also travels well. This makes him a real standout ante-post tip for the Grand Annual and a horse who is worth thinking about backing. With Cromwell confirming that the Grand Annual is the race at Cheltenham this horse is targeting, it also makes him a solid ante-post selection. The odds he is at now are very decent and you would expect him to go off at half that come raceday. With good Cheltenham form in his locker, My Mate Mozzie looks a sensible choice.
Minella Indo for the Cross Country
Minella Indo’s Gold Cup win shows that he has more than enough class to do well in 2024’s Cross Country. His fourth on the cross-country track in December under huge weight was also a major plus and makes him a top ante-post pick for 2024’s festival. With doubts about many of the other stronger names actually starting this race and Minella Indo being in great health, this looks a wise move to make.
Which are the best sportsbooks for backing ante-post tips for Cheltenham 2024?
Finding the best and safest online sportsbooks for Cheltenham ante-post betting is a must. One of the best options out there is Betfred, who are known for treating players fairly and using the latest online security measures to protect customer data. They also cover all of the Cheltenham festival races and have lots of ante-post markets to check out.
TalkSPORT BET are another big name for ante-post festival wagering and have great value odds to grab on these markets. They also have a range of secure payment options to place ante-post wagers with and offer excellent customer support. BetVictor are also worth considering and their intuitive user interface makes finding ante-post bets to place on Cheltenham simple. Their welcome offer of ‘bet £20 on horse racing and get £40’ is also ideal for betting at the festival.
Expert Cheltenham 2024 ante-post tips
If you have never considered placing ante-post wagers at the Cheltenham Festival, it is something to really think about. This is because you can get much better odds when betting in this way, compared to more traditional approaches. To get the most from this sort of betting though, it is key to find the best tips to work from and track down the horses who make the most sense for ante-post wagering.
